Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. For new students, visitors, etc, Merchant likes to create what he calls an "Alligator Bouquet, " by picking up all the babies his two hands can hold. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. For new students, visitors, etc, Merchant likes to create what he calls an "Alligator Bouquet, " by picking up all the babies his two hands can hold. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. For new students, visitors, etc, Merchant likes to create what he calls an "Alligator Bouquet, " by picking up all the babies his two hands can hold. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant seen here working in his lab on campus, is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. When he is not in his lab, he is In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators he uses in his research as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant seen here working in his lab on...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant seen here working in his lab with some of his students on campus, is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. When he is not in his lab, he is In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators he uses in his research as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant seen here working in his lab with...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor, seen here in his lab at McNeese State University, who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. When he is not in his lab, he is In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators he uses in his research as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor, seen...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant, center with hat, is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. Here he is working in his lab with some of his students observing his results. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. When he is not in his lab, he is In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators he uses in his research as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Nederland resident Mark Merchant, center with hat, is a...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant, center with hat, is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. Here he is working in his lab with some of his students observing his results. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. When he is not in his lab, he is In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators he uses in his research as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant, center with hat, is a...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. It is kept quite warm and the babies are fed and attended to every other day. Currently, he has American alligators, left hand, and Caiman alligators, right hand, from South America. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. It is kept quite warm and the babies are fed and attended to every other day. Currently, he has American alligators, left hand, and Caiman alligators, right hand, from South America. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. On Tuesday, he was not drawing blood, but he demonstrated how he does it by starting with holding the baby in one hand and using a syringe with a small needle in his other hand and drawing the blood from inside the spinal column behind the head and just above the spinal cord. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. On Tuesday, he was not drawing blood, but he demonstrated how he does it by starting with holding the baby in one hand and using a syringe with a small needle in his other hand and drawing the blood from inside the spinal column behind the head and just above the spinal cord. The syringe was already filled with blood for the demonstration. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. It is kept quite warm and the babies are fed and attended to every other day. Currently, he has American alligators, top, and Caiman alligators, bottom, from South America. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. It is kept quite warm and the babies are fed and attended to every other day. Currently, he has American alligators, left hand, and Caiman alligators, right hand, from South America. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. On Tuesday, he was not drawing blood, but he demonstrated how he does it by starting with holding the baby in one hand and using a syringe his other hand and drawing the blood from inside the spinal column behind the head and just above the spinal cord. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. On Tuesday, he was not drawing blood, but he demonstrated how he does it by starting with holding the baby in one hand and using a syringe with a small needle in his other hand and drawing the blood from inside the spinal column behind the head and just above the spinal cord. The syringe was already filled with blood for the demonstration. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. These are some of his baby american alligators. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen called Murphy. Here, while trying to get Murphy to come out of his holoe so he can check on him, Murphy comes out teeth first. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen called Murphy. Here, while trying to get Murphy to come out of his holoe so he can check on him, Murphy comes out teeth first. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen called Murphy. Here, while trying to get Murphy to come out of his holoe so he can check on him, Murphy comes out teeth first. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen called Murphy. Here, while trying to get Murphy to come out of his holoe so he can check on him, Murphy comes out teeth first. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. When he is not in his lab, he is In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators he uses in his research as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen who is named Murphy. Here he tries to get Murphy to come out of his holoe so he can check on him. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen called Murphy. Here, while trying to get Murphy to come out of his holoe so he can check on him, Murphy comes out teeth first. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators as well as a ten footer who lives outside in this pen called Murphy. His baby alligator building can be seen in the distance. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. When he is not in his lab, he is In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators he uses in his research as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen. Every other day, he will feed the babies a type of floating pellet food. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. When he is not in his lab, he is In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators he uses in his research as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen. Every other day, he will feed the babies a type of floating pellet food. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. When he is not in his lab, he is In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators he uses in his research as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen. He built the building himself inside a bigger building and it is always warm inside. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen called Murphy. Here, while trying to get Murphy to come out of his holoe so he can check on him, Murphy comes out teeth first. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen called Murphy. Here, while trying to get Murphy to come out of his holoe so he can check on him, Murphy comes out teeth first. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. When he is not in his lab, he is In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators he uses in his research as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen. Every other day, he will feed the babies a type of floating pellet food. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. When he is not in his lab, he is In an off campus research facility, where he has more than 100 baby alligators he uses in his research as well as a ten footer who lives outside in a pen. Every other day, he will feed the babies a type of floating pellet food. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. At a facility off the main campus, he has a building that he built himself to care for baby alligators that he takes samples of blood from for his research. It is kept quite warm and the babies are fed and attended to every other day. Currently, he has American alligators, top, and Caiman alligators, bottom, from South America. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at...

Nederland resident Mark Merchant is a biochemistry professor at McNeese State University who is studying alligator blood for its antibiotic properties. As a child, growing up hunting and fishing in the area, he remembers seeing a big alligator with a missing leg and being amazed at how it was surviving. Now, his research involves the powerful immune system and white blood cells that makes it possible for the reptiles to recover from greivous injuries in bacteria laden swamps. He had this T Shirt made a while back and when ever he travels, including around the world, he hands them out. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan